As the NBA debates the merits of putting advertising on uniforms, league officials also are asking club marketers to consider new on-court signage that could be in place as soon as next season — an LED system that would sit on the basket stanchion. The LED backboard arm sign from Dorna/Van Wagner allows for limited animation. It would replace the static basket profile stanchion signage from rival sign provider ANC, which has been used in NBA arenas since 2007 and was in 21 NBA arenas during the 2011-12 regular season, all carrying State Farm signs. If approved, the signage would be local inventory for games televised only in the local market and national inventory for nationally televised games. The LED system would allow for sales to more than one advertiser and for that valuable basket signage to sync with other on-court and in-arena advertising, or even TV ads…

…The University of Minnesota has struck a deal with the Vikings to host the team during construction of a new stadium, bringing in an estimated $3 million per NFL season for the school. The university’s Board of Regents unanimously signed off on a letter of intent governing use of the campus TCF Stadium by the Vikings on Friday, May 11. The board will have to approve an alcohol-sale arrangement at a later date. The stadium project at the Metrodome site requires the Vikings to play temporarily at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. Early plans had the Vikings continuing to play in the Metrodome as much of the construction took place on parking lots nearby. At least one season, likely 2015, would need to be played at TCF Bank Stadium…

…Major League Soccer, barely afloat at the turn of the century, is in the midst of a transformative face-lift, re-branding itself with state-of-the-art soccer stadiums. BBVA Compass is the league’s newest gem, a 22,000-seat stadium just east of downtown Houston that hosted its first game on Saturday when the Dynamo played D.C. United. It is the sixth stadium to open in the league since 2010, despite a lackluster economy, and the other five have helped MLS gain a more secure foothold in North American team sports. The $200 million BBVA Compass mixes cutting-edge technology — it has more than 150 Wi-Fi access points — with one of the league’s loudest atmospheres, because of a drum-shaped roof designed to deflect sound down to the field…

…The process to decide who will become anchor tenants of London’s Olympic stadium following this year’s Games has been extended by eight weeks to address “a number of issues”, the London Legacy Development Corporation said on Monday. West Ham United were one of only four confirmed bidders for the 500 million pounds ($804.85 million) venue by the original deadline in March. However, the London Legacy Development Corporation said in a statement they were extending the process to allow all parties who registered to receive the Invitation to Tender (ITT) additional time to submit bids. It said some had been discouraged because of governing body approvals, naming rights issues, and technical improvements…

…The 49ers may be moving to the South Bay, but they won’t be counting on Santa Clara to lead their pitch to host Super Bowl 50. They’re teaming up with San Francisco to bring the NFL’s golden anniversary title game to Santa Clara — and that’s not the only way the team is keeping its gaze on the City by the Bay. The benefits for San Francisco, along with $5.3 million from the Niners, are part of a new deal struck this week to allow the franchise to escape its lease at Candlestick Park in 2014, when the 49ers are slated to begin playing in Santa Clara. It’s also another sign, along with the team keeping the San Francisco name, that the South Bay always will have to share ownership of the NFL franchise.

Join SVG Today:
SVG’s goal is simple: to bring the entire sports industry closer together so that it can more effectively share information about best practices and new technologies that impact the industry. Your SVG membership will enable you to benefit from our continued educational opportunities, valuable event discounts, as well as multiple print and online resources. Click here for details

Become an SVG Sponsor:
The SVG has a variety of sponsorship options to meet the outreach and marketing needs of virtually every sports industry organization. Find out more about our range of industry-supported activities, and discover how your company can support the sports video industry. Click here for details